How exactly did Dorothy get transported to Oz? Where did that portal come from that
delivered Alice to her wonderland? Although their authors of fiction are the obvious first
choice of answers, the tales do have something in common. Dorothy's tornado and
Alice's doorway to wonder are both vortexes. We know the storylines of Wizard of Oz
and Alice in Wonderland are borne from fiction, but does the same hold true for the
vortex?
 
There are two main definitions for vortexes. On one hand, there's a simple and scientific
definition. In the world of hard facts and proof, a vortex is defined as a swirling mass of
substance such as air, water, or fire. Examples of these vortexes could be cited as
tornadoes, whirlpools, and volcanoes. These vortexes are based on fact and science. But
since the early 1920s, another definition of vortex has swirled to the surface of
consciousness. 
 
Steeped in New Age concepts, soaked in mystery, and bubbling with controversy; the
new definition of vortex points to supernatural events, spiritual super-centers, and
unexplained phenomena. Examples of this type of vortex can be found at Stonehenge, the
Giza pyramids, and in sites of former civilizations such as the Incas in Peru. There are
also several vortex sites in the United States, the most popular and abundant of which are
located in Sedona, Arizona.
 
Spiritual vortexes are said to be cross-points between energy fields in the earth's grid
system, or intersecting ley lines. Where the ley lines intersect, in certain areas, the result
is said to be a "hot spot" of energy that can produce a wide range of effects along the
lines of spiritual healing, psychic enhancement, and anomalies in plant life such as two
species of trees growing together as one. Of course, there are other theories circling
vortexes and ley lines as well, including that ley lines are what UFOs travel along, much
the way we drive our cars along highways. It has also been suggested that vortexes can be
portals into other realms, much like Alice's wonderland or Dorothy's Oz. To some, these
vortexes are doorways into other dimensions. This type of vortex is where it's said that
swirling masses of electromagnetic energy come to the surface, similar to the way lava is
expelled from a volcano. 
 
Spiritual vortexes have been compared to magnets. A magnet can bring together metallic
objects. In the same way, a vortex is said to assist in aligning spiritual properties,
bringing together the pieces and parts of our spiritual make up to create balance and
harmony in the body. The Chakra system is believed to consist of mini personal vortexes
in the human body - energy centers that power our life force. Visiting a physical vortex is
said to help align these personal vortexes for enhanced health as well as spiritual and
emotional balance.
 
Some of the terms used to describe these spiritual vortexes sound extremely scientific:
earth's grids, ley lines, geomancy, and electromagnetic fields. If one didn't know better,
they'd think they were experiencing scientific proof. But there's more to it than meets the
eye. Let's start with ley lines.
 
Ley lines are an invisible grid said to permeate the planet. These can almost be compared
to the types of earth grids we see in geography on maps. However, the earth grids in
maps are used for simple measurement and coordinates, and are not suggesting any
physical force. Ley lines, on the contrary, do claim physical force by way of flowing
energy. Words used to define ley lines are words like imaginary, alleged, and
hypothetical. 
 
Geomancy is another scientific-sounding word, but unfortunately, has absolutely no
foundation in science. Geomancy is a form of divination, a way of scrying for energy
using pendulums and dowsing rods, among other tools. While these tools are widely
accepted in the metaphysical community, they're often rejected by science.
 
Then, of course, there's the electromagnetic field factor. Now here's one area on which
the science and metaphysical communities can and do agree. Electromagnetic fields are
real. However, the effects of those fields are understood in completely different ways by
scientists and metaphysics. What's important to remember is that electromagnetic fields
CAN produce a reaction, but the experience isn't necessarily paranormal or metaphysical
as much as it is medical. Electromagnetic fields have been known to cause reactions in
the human brain that have hallucinogenic effects. Then again, who's to say a
hallucination can't be interpreted as a spiritual experience?
 
Many of us don't require proof to believe in things such as the vortex and its hidden
powers. But, there is another caution that comes along with the popularity of vortex sites
for spiritual quests. Nope, I'm not going to caution you to beware of hidden doors leading
to otherworlds. I'm not going to advise how to communicate with a faerie or elemental
should you bump into one. I won't caution to keep your soul tethered tightly to your body
in the event of unplanned astral travel, but I will offer caution about one serious concern.
Tourist traps!
 
Because vortexes have become extremely powerful as a draw to the metaphysical
community, so has the tourist trade at vortex sites - and tourist traps in the metaphysical
realm are quite different from other tourist traps. Everywhere you turn in vortex areas is a
psychic wanting to predict your future, a healer wanting to align your chakras or give you
acupuncture, a seer who wants to give you a personal tour, a vendor who wants to sell
you his crystals, and a medium who wants to give you a message from your long lost
Uncle Bernie. There's nothing wrong with seeking out this type of assistance when it's
needed, but use common sense, trust your intuition, and don't be too quick to part with a
buck!
 
Vortexes will always be magickal places to many, regardless of what science proves or
disproves. They may not whisk you away on yellow brick roads to sing and dance with
the lollipop guild, or to wonderlands for tea with the Mad Hatter, but they certainly offer
a chance to cross over into peaceful spiritual dimensions and awe-inspiring landscapes.